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Honestly, I’m fed up with Twitter.
It used to be fun — funny, informative, chaotic in the best way. You could have proper debates that lasted days.
Friendships were made (and lost), but at least there was a sense of community.
Just to be clear -
I’ve never defended Thomas Partey or what he’s accused of and I sure as hell don’t support rapists. What I’ve done in my tweets is explain the legal limits on what Arsenal, as an employer, could or couldn’t do. Fed up with it all now and off to bed.
@bridgersfc You’re reading in things I haven’t said. I haven’t defended the player, I’ve explained the legal limits of what the club can do. Wanting due process doesn’t mean siding with the accused. If we abandon fair process for public emotion, we set a dangerous precedent for everyone.
@burner17035411 Choosing to include a player in media isn’t the same as making a moral endorsement, it’s standard treatment under contract. If they’d excluded him without cause, that’s where legal issues arise. Equal treatment cuts both ways.
@TroyTheDirector I believe that now he is a free agent the police have had to make the decision to charge or not as he could sign for a club in a country with no extradition treaty in place. The police's hand has been forced in the matter.
🧵 Thread: Why Arsenal couldn’t legally suspend Thomas Partey even if they wanted to.
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Frustration is understandable, the charges are serious.
But Arsenal’s hands were tied by UK law, employment contracts, and due process. Here’s why they couldn’t just suspend him ⬇️
@bridgersfc I get why that comment upset people it was poorly worded. But legally, defending a player from public abuse isn’t the same as excusing allegations. As for safeguarding, unless you have evidence policies were ignored, that’s speculation. Clubs must follow due process
@burner17035411 You’re conflating PR with legal duty. Arsenal can choose who to feature in media. What they can’t do is treat a player unfairly or differently based on unproven allegations. That’s what invites legal action.
@tmfellowes@bridgersfc I agree, the club made all the right noises to show no bias towards TP. I believe the police have had to act to stop him moving to somewhere like Saudi Arabia where the UK have no extradition treaty with.
@TroyTheDirector The point is, Arsenal couldn’t take action based on unproven allegations without legal risk. Whether Partey was surplus to requirements or not is a footballing decision. If the club sat down to discuss terms, it likely reflects legal caution, not approval of his actions.
@bridgersfc I've answered this elsewhere -
Yes, frozen out players like Aubameyang for lateness, which was an internal breach. Partey’s case involves an ongoing legal process, totally different territory with far more legal risk.
@Rich_Gooner@MoArsenal86 Mate the arguments on here are doing my head in. They think Arsenal could have suspended him for the 3 years without any legal come back on the club.